Start+the+Presses!

=Start the Presses!= by [|Tedd Brent]

Purpose
//What instructional or motivational purpose does this activity serve?// This activity is designed acclimate journalism/school newspaper students to working as a team and depending on other students to complete a finished product.

Time Required
//How many minutes do you estimate it will take?// This activity takes 35-45 minutes.

Number of Participants
//Put a mimimum, maximum and optimal number.// Since the activity is designed for groups, the ideal is groups of three to four, with an editor in each group and the remainder of the group being comprised of regular newspaper staff.

Supplies Needed
//What do the facilitator and participants need? Cards? Newsprint to write on? Markers? Name tags?// The following supplies are needed: 11" x 17" paper sample headlines, stories, graphics, and other newspaper page elements scissors for each group glue sticks for each group

Preparation
//What does the facilitator need to do or make ahead of time?// The activity involves instructor preparation beforehand as students will be designing a mock front page of a newspaper. First, supplies will need to be collected, including scissors and glue sticks for each group, as well as 11" x 17" paper to serve as the front page. Secondly, the instructor will need to collect and create a variety of elements for a front page, such as various stories (collected from the Internet), several different graphics for each story, the newspaper name in various fonts, and any other item unique to the school's newspaper.

Introduction
//Write the script that the facilitator will use to kick it off.// The facilitator will need to give the following instructions: •Get into groups of three to four, with one editor in each group (teacher can divide editors beforehand and even assign students to groups). •Each group will be creating a front page of a newspaper using the elements given you in a packet. As a group, you will have to look over the graphics, stories, headlines, newspaper title, and pictures, then discuss what to include and what to discard when designing your group's front page. •After making preliminary decisions about what to include, your team will be ready to assemble the front page; however, the following rules must be observed: 1. Only one person can touch the scissors. 2. Only one person can touch the glue. 3. Only one person can touch any paper. 4. The editor in the group can only tell where to place items but is not allowed to touch anything. •Your group has 20 minutes to create a finished project to be submitted for judging. Each front page will be judged by the facilitator/instructor based on the following criteria: 1. Worthiness of story decisions for a front page. 2. Relevance of pictures and graphics for a front page. 3. Aesthetic coherence/design of the front page. •The winning group will win ____________ as a prize.

Process
//Step by step, describe what the facilitator and the participants will be doing. If appropriate, estimate the number of minutes each step will take.// 1. Divide students into groups of three to four, trying to have one editor (senior or section) in each group. (5 minutes) 2. Explain the competition/task to the class and distribute supplies. (5-6 minutes) 3. Allow teams to work. (20 minutes) 4. Collect and judge front pages. 5. Debrief with supplied questions. 6. Announce and award winning group.

Debrief
//List questions the facilitator should ask to solidify what is learned in this activity.// Q: How did the discussion go for what to include on the front page? Did one person exert more influence than another? Did any arguments or disagreements occur? How were they resolved? Q: How did it feel to be limited to only one task? Was there ever any miscommunication? Did anyone get frustrated? Why? Was one limitation more difficult than any of the others? Was one limitation easier than any of the others? Why? Q: What impact did the 20 minute deadline have on your pacing? Was it an issue? Why or why not? Q: How did the editor lead? What did he/she do that was effective? Q: What should this activity teach you about... teamwork? Working on the school newspaper? Meeting deadlines? Everyone's role on the newspaper staff?

Credits
To the best of my knowledge, I created this activity; every year I try to implement a different team-building activity on the first day of journalism so that from day one students know they are expected to be a team. Since I have some students returning each year, up to four years in a row, I regularly seek a fresh idea as the first-day activity.